The red-purple of the ammolite (fossilized ammonite replaced with shell-material nacre) in this pendant is like that of the pomegranate seed, and whether Persephone chose to eat the seed or Hades demanded it, the end result was the same: Persephone must leave her mother Demeter and return to the Underworld for a time each year. This myth explains the seasons: Persephone's footfall heralds the flower of spring as she is united with her mother, summer's fine and glorious fruits when Demeter and Persephone are together in joy, the richness yet sadness of fall as all diminishes in the face of Persephone's departure, followed by the long, dark months of winter when she is in the Underworld and Demeter mourns. Upon death, the Greek belief in afterlife held that most souls would enter the Asphodel Meadows, with Elysium reserved for the heroes and demigods and others leading distinguished lives and Tartarus for those distinguishing themselves for vice and sins. Charon, the ferryman, was responsible for taking souls across the river Acheron or Styx, and he could turn away the souls of the unburied; hence, the great concern throughout Greek stories about proper burial of their dead. The pendant is paired with a sterling silver open cable chain.

Cost: $47.00 USD

Gift Recipient Name

If this item is going to be a gift, enter the gift recipient name in the text box when you add this item to your cart. If your entire order is going to one recipient (yourself or other), no other action is needed and you can specify the shipping address in PayPal checkout. However, if you would like multiple recipients in the same order, we can accommodate that! Before you check out, make sure to add a gift box to your cart for each gift recipient in your order. You will be charged $4.95 USD for each recipient other than yourself and you'll need to add the recipient name and address to the gift box text field. Also, each recipient can receive multiple items for the same $4.95 gift box fee; just continue to specify their name when adding items to your cart.

• Color: red purple
• Material: organics+
• Type: necklace - mid
• Geek Chic: literary allusions
• Cool Finds: cool stones

Length: necklace - 18"

Materials:

• shell cabochons set sterling silver
• sterling silver 3mm open cable chain

Care & cleaning: Clean with warm soapy water and avoid chemical or abrasive cleaners. Use a soft jewelry polishing cloth to clean tarnish appearing on silver.

The pendant and chain are robust to toddler tugs, but as with all beaded jewelry: do not let young toddlers chew on it.

This 18" necklace and pendant are versatile and can be worn with casual tops (crew necks, V-necks) and higher-neck blouses or deeper V collared shirts.